Todaypersonality Hoda Hotb spent years wishing she could be a mother, and wincing when strangers asked if she had kids. Finally, she announced on this morning's (February 21) episode, she can shelve her maternal pangs and say she's officially a parent.

Kotb shared on the show that she adopted a baby named Haley Joy Kotb — Haley in honor of Halley's Comet ("It was one of those things where I just picture her sailing through the sky," Kotb said) and Joy because, well, the experience has brought her a ton.

"She is the love of my life," Kotb said. "She's got a beautiful way about her.

The 52-year-old Kotb added Haley has proven to be a wonderful gift, and one that has put one of Kotb's lingering questions — Will I ever be a mother? — to rest.

You know how many times I walked down the street and one of the questions people always ask me is, ‘Oh do you have kids?’ ” she said. “And I always say, ‘No, I don’t.’ And it’s one of those things where it’s kind of always a little bit of an ouch and an ache.”

Now, she gets to change her answer.

"The other day I was walking down the street to get some cream for her, and someone asks, ‘Are you a mom?’ I couldn’t say it out loud for her, but in my head I was like, ‘I am a mom! I am!" she said.

Kotb was married to Burzis Kanga before the couple divorced in 2007 and is currently dating Joel Schiffman.